The five limbs
Panchang means "five limbs" — the five measures that define a Vedic day. On Sunday, 18 October 2026: the tithi (lunar day) is Saptami of the Shukla paksha, the nakshatra is Purva Ashadha, the yoga is Sukarma, the karana is Vanija, and the vara (weekday) is Ravivara.
Sunrise, sunset and the Moon
The day runs from sunrise at 06:23 to sunset at 17:48. The Moon rises at 13:05 and sets at 23:31. Every window below is measured from that sunrise, which is why a panchang is always tied to a place — these times are for New Delhi, India (IST).
Inauspicious windows to avoid
Rahu Kaal runs 16:23 to 17:48. Yamaganda Kaal runs 12:06 to 13:31. Gulika Kaal runs 14:57 to 16:23. Traditionally these are avoided for starting anything important — a new venture, a journey, a purchase, or a ceremony. They repeat daily and shift with the weekday, so the Rahu Kaal that applied yesterday does not apply today.
See it in your own chart
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Frequently asked
- What is the tithi today (18 October 2026)?
- The tithi is Saptami of the Shukla paksha. A tithi is a lunar day — the time the Moon takes to gain 12° on the Sun — so it does not line up neatly with a 24-hour clock day.
- What is Rahu Kaal and should I really avoid it?
- Rahu Kaal on this day runs 16:23 to 17:48 at New Delhi, India (IST). It is an inauspicious ninety-minute window calculated by dividing daylight into eight parts, with the position depending on the weekday. Tradition avoids starting new work in it; it is a timing convention, not a prediction of harm.
- Are these timings valid for my city?
- These are computed for New Delhi, India (IST). Because every window is derived from local sunrise, the timings shift with longitude and latitude — often by an hour or more outside north India. For your own city, use the free panchang calculator, which computes it for any location.
- Which nakshatra is the Moon in on 18 October 2026?
- The Moon is in Purva Ashadha. The Moon crosses roughly one nakshatra a day, which is why the nakshatra is the fastest-moving of the five limbs and the one daily readings lean on most.